CHILLI PANEER

 

Chilli Paneer is a popular Indo-Chinese dish made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and bell peppers in a spicy and tangy sauce. Here's a recipe for Chilli Paneer:

Ingredients:

For the paneer marinade:

1. 250 grams paneer, cut into cubes

2. 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)

3. 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (maida)

4. 1/2 teaspoon salt

5. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder

6. 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

7. 1 tablespoon soy sauce

8. 1 tablespoon water

For the sauce:

9. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

10. 1 onion, finely chopped

11. 1 green bell pepper, cut into cubes

12. 1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes

13. 2-3 green chilies, slit (adjust to taste)

14. 2 tablespoons soy sauce

15. 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup

16. 1 tablespoon chili sauce (adjust to taste)

17. 1 tablespoon vinegar

18. 1 tablespoon cornflour mixed with 3 tablespoons water (cornflour slurry)

19. Salt to taste

20. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder

21. 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

22. Spring onions, chopped, for garnishing

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together cornflour, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper powder, ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, and water to make a smooth batter. Add the paneer cubes to the batter and toss gently to coat them evenly. Let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes.

2. Heat vegetable oil in a pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the marinated paneer cubes to the hot oil and fry until they turn golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove the fried paneer cubes from the pan and set them aside.

3. In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Add chopped onions and slit green chilies, and sauté until the onions turn translucent.

4. Add the cubed bell peppers (green and red) to the pan and stir-fry for a couple of minutes until they are slightly tender but still crisp.

5. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, tomato ketchup, chili sauce, vinegar, salt, black pepper powder, and sugar (if using).

6. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Stir well to combine.

7. Add the cornflour slurry to the pan and mix well. Cook for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables evenly.

8. Add the fried paneer cubes to the pan and toss gently to coat them with the sauce.

9. Garnish with chopped spring onions and remove from heat.

10. Serve hot Chilli Paneer as an appetizer or as a side dish with fried rice or noodles.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Chilli Paneer!